1.--A new form of entertainment was introduced at this date--"Ethiopian
minstrelsy," the precursor of the Christy minstrels. The troupe appeared
at Norwich Theatre. "The band consists of five harmonists, with black
faces and white eyes, black coats and white cuffs, black trousers and
white waistcoats, black stocks and white collars. The instruments are a
violin, two 'banjoes' (instruments that look like guitars run to seed), a
tambourine, and 'bones' (a species of castanet)."
4.--Died at Earlham, in his 59th year, Mr. Joseph John Gurney. He was a
son of John Gurney, of Earlham, and a grandson of John Gurney who died in
1770, and had been "the connecting link by which the hand-spun yarn of
the South of Ireland was brought to add its stores to the wants of our
artizans." Mr. J. J. Gurney received his early education under the Rev.
M. Browne, of Hingham; he then went to the Academical Institution at
Oxford. He was a great traveller. Several times he visited the West
Indies, travelled twice on the Continent, made a tour in Scotland, in
company with Mr. Hoare, for the purpose of inspecting the prisons, and,
accompanied by Mrs. Fry, he visited Ireland in the spring of 1827, in
order to personally investigate the condition of the prisons and the
charitable institutions of that country. On July 8th, 1837, he embarked
at Liverpool for Philadelphia on a Gospel mission to parts of North
America and the West Indies. Of this tour he gave an interesting account
in "Familiar Letters to Amelia Opie"; his "Winter in the West Indies" is
described in "Familiar Letters to Henry Clay of Kentucky." He was three
times married; his first wife was a daughter of Mr. J. Birkbeck, of Lynn,
his second a Wiltshire lady, and his third an American lady. Mr. Gurney
was the author of several works in addition to those above-mentioned, and
was one of the greatest philanthropists of his day. Memorial services
were held at many places of worship in Norwich on the Sunday following
his death, and on the day of the funeral (January 12th) business in the
city was suspended. The interment took place at the Gildencroft, when
the rites peculiar to the Society of Friends were performed.
5.--Serious acts of insubordination were committed by the inmates of
Swainsthorpe Workhouse, "on the ground that they wanted more victuals."
Damage was done to the windows to the amount of 30 pounds.
14.--The use of anaesthetics--"ethereal fumes "--was introduced at the
Norfolk and Norwich Hospital by Dr. Hull, in the extraction of teeth.
(_See_ December 30th, 1847.)
23.--At a meeting held at the Swan Inn, Norwich, the East Norfolk and
West Norfolk Agricultural Societies were amalgamated under the title of
the Norfolk Agricultural Society. The first general meeting of the
newly-formed society was held on the same day, when Lord Hastings was
elected President. The first show took place on the Cricket Ground,
Norwich, on June 18th, and for several years the exhibitions were held
alternately in the city and at Swaffham.
27.--Died, aged 67, Mr. George Fisher, formerly of the Norfolk and
Suffolk Company of Comedians.
31.--Died, in his 93rd year, the Rev. John Oldershaw, Archdeacon of
Norfolk. He was born at Leicester, where his father practised as a
surgeon, and was educated at Oakham Grammar School and at Emanuel
College, Cambridge, where he proceeded B.A. in 1776, and obtained the
distinguished honour of senior wrangler of his year. About this time he
became private tutor to Charles Manners Sutton, who was afterwards Bishop
of Norwich and Archbishop of Canterbury. He was elected a Fellow and
public tutor of his College; when Sutton became Bishop of Norwich he
appointed him his examining chaplain. Mr. Oldershaw married Anne,
daughter of Sir John Hynde Cotton, Bart., of Maddingley, Cambridgeshire,
and took up his residence at Harpley, as curate. He was presented in
1797 to the Archdeaconry of Norfolk, and was soon after nominated to the
rectory of Redenhall-with-Harleston. Archdeacon Oldershaw was for many
years one of the most active magistrates in the county.